China vows 'resolute and strong measures' after latest US arms sales to Taiwan

Days after the US approved a $300-million deal to beef up Taiwan’s defences, China on Monday vowed to take “resolute and strong measures” against companies involved in arms sales to self-ruled island. Addressing a briefing on Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, “We will take countermeasures against relevant enterprises involved in arms sales to Taiwan.” He said the US should stop the dangerous trend of arming Taiwan and stop creating tensions in the Taiwan Strait. “The US should stop indulging and supporting the separatist forces of Taiwan independence in their quest for achieving independence by force,” he said, adding, “China will eventually reunify, and indeed must reunify.” China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has pledged to seize it one day, while the US Congress requires the supply of weapons to the self-governing democracy for its defence. The US State Department last week approved an arms package that both sides said would strengthen Taipei’s joint battle command and control system. Beijing has ratcheted up the pressure on Taiwan since independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen took power there in 2016. It regularly sends warplanes and vessels near the island, whose defence ministry recently also reported several sightings of balloons from the mainland. Both Washington and Taipei have warned Beijing not to seek to influence presidential elections in Taiwan next month. With inputs from agencies